Magnetic tool guide



Jan. 7, 1958 R. H. DE GASTON 4 MAGNETIC TOOL GUIDE Filed Feb. 10, 1955 im www W f ..1 ,l @mmh Zwn nited States Patent MAGNETIC TOOL GUIDE Raoul Hugh de Gaston, Los Angeles, Calif. Application February 10, 195s, serial No. 481,340

4 Claims. (Cl. 33-189) This invention relates to a toool support or guide, and more particularly to a magnetic tool guide.

The object of the invention is to provide a magnetic tool holder which permits a tool guide to be readily set r its proper position without the use of clamps or the Another object of the invention is to provide a magnetic tool guide or holder which includes a magnetized base that has pins projecting therefrom, the pins adapted to engage a suitable work surface so as to help prevent accidental movement of the base and wherein a viewing glass can be used to properly locate the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a magnetic tool guide which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a top plan view of the tool guide.

Figure 2. is a sectional view taken -on the line 2-.2 of Figure l. v

Figure 3 is a top plan view similar to Figure 1 but showing the viewing glass positioned in the device for properly locating or positioning the base.

Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 3, but taken in side elevation, and with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 5 is `a longitudinal sectional view taken through the viewing glass.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and in section, illustrating the tool support mounted in the base.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 19 designates a base which is adapted to be made of any suitable material such as a material having a high magnetic permeability. The base 10 is provided with a cir. cular recess 11 which extends upwardly from the lower end thereof, and coil windings 12 are positioned in the recess 11. A ring 14 is positioned in the bottom of the recess 11 for maintaining the coil windings 12 in their proper position in the recess 11. The bottom of ring 14 is flush lwith the bottom of the base. A means is provided for connecting the coil windings 12 to a suitable source of electrical energy, and this means comprises a collar 15 which has terminals 16 arranged in engagement therewith, Figure 2, and wires 17 extend outwardly therefrom, and the wires 17 are adapted to be connected to a suitable source of electrical energy.

The base 10 is further provided with a central circular opening 18 which snugly receives therein a cylindrical bushing 19. The bushing 19 has its lower end lying in the same plane as the bottom of the base. The upper inner surface of the bushing 19 may be beveled or countersunk as at 20. The upper surface of the base 10 is provided with an aperture 21 which communicates with ICC n the opening 18, `and the aperture 21 is of greater diameter than the opening 18.

The base 10 is further provided with a plurality of spaced parallel bores which each include an upper threaded portion 22, an intermediate smooth portion 23, and a lower smooth portion 24, Figure 2. The portion 24 is of less diameter than the portion 23, and the portion 23 is `of less liameter than the portion 22. Seated in each of the bores is .a pin which is indicated generally by the numeral 25. Each of the pins has the same construction .and each includes an enlarged shoulder 26 which projects into the intermediate portion 23, and the lower end of each pin includes la cylindrical shank 27 which extends through the bottom portion 24. Each of the shanks 27 has its lower end terminating in a pointed tip 28 for engagement with a work surface.

Arranged in the upper end of each of the bores is a thumb screw which is indicated generally by the numeral 29, and each thumb screw 29 includes a threaded stem 30 which threadedly engages the upper portion 22 of the bore. A knurled knob 31 is on the upper end of each thumb screw so that the thumb screws can be readily removed or replaced.

A viewing glass 32 is adapted to be used in order to properly position the base 10, and lthe viewing glass is shown in detail in Figure 5 and includes a cylindrical sleeve 32 which is adapted to project through the hollow bushing 19. An annular ange 34 on the sleeve 33 is adapted to abut the upper end of the bushing 19, and a plate 35 in the bottom of the sleeve has cross hairs 36 thereon, Figure 3. A lens 37 Vis positioned within the sleeve, and a cutout 38 permits suii'icient light to enter the sleeve so that the device can be readily observed.

Referring to Figure 6 of the drawings there is shown a tool support mounted in the base 10, wherein the numeral 39 designates a vertically disposed post which includes a lower cylindrical section 40 which is snugly seated in the bushing 19. An annular flange 41 on thev post 39 is adapted to be seated in the aperture 21, and the upper portion of the post 39 is provided with a cutout 42 through which extends a bar 43. A setscrew 44 extends through the post 39 and into engagement with the bar 43, and the outer end of the bar 43 is provided with an enlargement 45 which has an opening 46'extending therethrough for receiving any suitable tool.

From the foregoing it is apparent that there has been provided a magnetic tool guide and in use the coil 12 can be energized by means of the wires 17, which can lead to a suitable source of electrical energy. The body 10 will thus become magnetized so that it will remain immobile on the work or supporting structure. Befo-re the base 10 is nally positioned, the viewing glass 32 can be inserted into the bushing 19 as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Then, by looking through the top of the viewing glass, the cross hairs 36 can be made to coincide with a suitable indicia or point on the work so as to properly Ialign the base 10. After the base has been properly aligned the viewing glass 32 can be removed and then a device such as the post 39 can be inserted in the bushing 19. Thus, the bar 43 can be used for supporting a tap, reamer or any other tool. The pointed end 28 of the pins 25 help maintain the base 10 in its proper adjusted position.

The body or base 10 is preferably made of a high magnetic permeability alloy which is manufactured with great accuracy and concentricity with respect to the center hole and the outside diameter. The bushing 19 may be made of hardened steel and may be of a size to receive standard drill bushings, fixtures and the like. The eye piece 32 can be inserted into the bushing 19 to facilitate locating the device with respect to scribed lines and the like. The pins 25 prevent sliding motion during usage and the coil lsllppliesthe magnetomotivefforce. The yring 14-sealsthe unit and retains the windings 12 in place and the contact 16 provides a means for aixing the necessary elfCIrICal; connections. 'ITh'ewmagnetl is veryV strong;-andcan be used in guiding machine shop.

Thus, the present inventionguide such as a drill bushing, tap or the likeat-apositionwithout, the use of clamps `or the-likesince thefmagnet` issuiciently-strong to insureI that-once it is located, a person such as. a mechanic degree` ot' accuracy. Whilefan electric'magnetisilluscan bevaried Vas' desired, and the-t-hole'or opening 18v is of .such a-size as to receive standarddrillbushings orf-such xtures as desired. As an illustration off ay use-thereof, a pivoting arm can be set inposition for4 the purpose of usingthe firm base for-scribing circles. Or, byhaving a: sliding guide attached to vthe pivoting position in the center-ofthemagnen an extendedlbushing for `tapping or rearning. can be-used with an assurance o-ff squareness in; relation to the lwork to thereby savetheoperator 'from the necessity of moving the work to a'tapping machine. Thus, the present invention will permit atdrillfbushing totb'exed atI an-zexact position ori-the wor-k andthe bushing will act lasfa` guide-*for accurately prelocating the work.` andfsubstantially holding; it-l in position while; the

actual work isbeing performedf.- The magnet can beused'for 4accurate locating and guidingo-tools'andfthepositioningY pins 25v help hold-thedevice-in placeand also inthe eventy that any slippage occurs,- theyv will` make marks a on the supporting device lto thereby indicate` that movement hasfoccurred.'l

Since the bushingY 19 ismade-with-greatprecision-with respectto the-outer surfacewot1 thebod'y, ,deptlfmikea ga-ugetblocks andthe like-can be aligned'.- The eye piece combined with the magnetic toolwguide permits-rapid sinking` of -holes or locating in general.` Itis intended-that this tool be appliedv directlyto the worlclfto bedone.

I claim:

1'. In -amagnetictool guide, a base oflhighmagnetic permeability, said base being provided; with# acircular recess` extending upwardly-fr`om its-lower surface, a coil positioned; iti-said recess and i adapted ito be connectedr to a source ofelectrical'energy; avringf-arrangedfimthe ylower portion of saidl recess and the bottom -of'fl said `ri-ngfbeing ushy with thez bottomof sadf base,- thereebei-ngacentralifopening in said base, a'Y cylindrical bushing snugly` seated insaid. opening and@ having its lower end lying in thefsame plane as the bottomof-"saidbase-,J` thei upper inner surface of said bushing being countersunk, there being aacounterbored aperture in the upper endiot said-l base 4of` greater diameter than said openingwand communciatingtwithsaid' opening,- sa-id'base being -provided withy a plural-ityL of; spaced'- parallelAl bores-,V each ofsaid bores including zin-upper threaded--portion,A an-intermediate smoothportion off-lessdi`ameter than said upper por-tion, andra-lower smoothportionfro'fless diameter than? said intermediatefportion, pi-nseeach? including af-cydrills, and taps andreamers irl-faA utilizes amagnet as a means for quickly locatingwandsettingor ixingfa tool'l can drill work with a high lindricalr sh-anlo extending through-the lowerportion of the bore and having their lower ends pointed for engagement with a work surface, an enlarged shoulder on the upper end of each of said pins seated in said intermediate portion, and a thumb screw having a threaded stem engaging the upper portion of each bore, and a knurled knob on the upper end of each thumb screw.

2. The structure as deined intclaim 1, and further including a vertically disposed post vextending upwardly from saidbase.

3. In ya-v magnetic-tool guide, a base of "high magnetic permeability, said-hase:beingrprovded with a circular recess extending upwardly from its lower surface, a coil positioned in saidrecessfandfadaptedltobe connected to a vsource of electrical energy, a ring arranged in the lower portion of said recess and the bottom of said ring being -ush with the bottom of said base, there being a central opening lin said base, acylindrical bushingfsnugly seated inv said" opening andA having its lower,` end lying', in the same plane .asythe bottonrofsaid base., the upperinner surface of said-'bushing being countersunk, there ,being a` counterbored" aperturel inA the upper eud'of` saidbaseof greaterdiameterth'an said opening and"communicating with said opening,said base beingprovided witha plurality vofspa'ced parallel* bores, each of'said bores including an upper threaded" portion, an intermediate smoothportionAV of'f1essdijamete,rfthan ,said upper portion, and Lav lower smooth`4 portion; of less diameters-than said intermediate-portion; pinsu eachl including" a cylindrical shankfextendigthrugh'thelower portion oi theV bore`A andhavingjth'eir lower ends pointed for engagement with-a-work-surface,` an enlargedI shoulder ou4 the. upper end of each of said pins seated in Saidintermediate portion, and` ta thumbscrew havingj` a threadedvv stem en-.

gaging the upper portion of'each bore, and1a knurled knob on the upper Yend`-of -eachizthumb screw, `a vertically disposed" posthavirlgja lower," cylindrical section snugly seated in said bushing, anannular shoulder-on said'post' References Cited in the le of this patent. UNITED vSTATES PATENTS Re.14,5511 Ames Noy. 19, 159,178 710,257 'De Leeuw c Sept. 30,' 119.02, 1,198,227' Hinchey Sept. 12,'V 19,16 1,436,386 Dodds, Nov. 2,1, 1922' 1,629,143 Bungart 1,927 1,758.959 MCGseI-g.-

193.0. 2,213,014 19.40 2490,6,.4& 19.4,? 2,607,990 1,95 2

424,0544 Germany4v Jan'.16, 1926- 672,5036 GreatBritainfn.. May 1 4, 1952` 487,895( Canada r Nov'. 111", 1952` 

